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iOS 8: How to Use the Handoff Feature

Apple’s Handoff feature is probably one of the most useful options iOS 8 comes with. It’s a feature that links Mac and iOS devices and allows you to switch between your devices seamlessly, without losing any work or having to wait for servers to sync.

Before you actually start using Handoff, you’ll need to set it up on your Mac computer:

1. Make sure your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth are turned on.
2. Go to Settings>General>Handoff & Suggested Apps and move the slider to On.

*If you’re on the same Wi-Fi network as your Mac, Handoff should work just fine and you won’t need to pair your iOS and Mac device via Bluetooth.

Handoff works with the Mail app, Safari, Messages, Contacts, Maps, Reminders, Pages, Keynote, Numbers, and Calendar, and after your devices get all synced up, compatible app icons will appear on your lock screen or you’ll get a new pane in app switcher.

To send something to your iOS device from a Mac, open up an app on your computer. When you decide that you want to open it on your iOS device, too, go to your lock screen, find an icon for that app, and swipe it up to open it there. If it’s the other way around, a new icon will pop up in your Dock (on your Mac), and when you click on it, the app will open. Same goes for phone calls – if someone’s trying to reach you on your iPhone, a notification will appear on your Mac and you’ll be able to get the call by clicking the answer button.

*For Handoff to work, you have to have OS X Yosemite and iOS 8/8.1 installed.